NOTES: Thanks for the submissions on the family exercise on the speeches of Imam Zaid and Cornel West. They were both interesting and insightful and everyone received the 10 points for this activity. I may highlight a few points that were brought out when we get together next time.
I began reading your last set of journal entries last night, and it caused me to do some re-reading of Chapter 6 in Between Cross and Crescent. That made me realize that some of my criticisms of Baldwin who wrote that chapter may have been a bit unfair. It is not as if Baldwin directly says that King inspired the sit-ins and freedom rides, and made the decision to use children in Birmingham (in fact, he does mention Rev. Bevel, who I noted was directly responsible for that), but he does seem to IMPLY that. Also, Baldwin does make a reference to King's work with young people to try to discourage them from rioting during the mid-60s.
REMINDERS: First, remember that the essay on Obama's take on black nationalism is due this FRIDAY, APR. 30TH.
Second, your papers on Malcolm X (either topic I or II) is due NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 7TH.
Third, next Tuesday will be our last regular class, since you will be taking the final exam on the last class day, TUESDAY, MAY 11TH. In that regard, you need to read Michael Eric Dyson's book, "Making Malcolm," because I plan to cover as much of it as I can in our last class.
Finally, DON'T FORGET TO START TO REVIEW YOUR NOTES AS WELL AS BLOG MATERIAL AND MAKE UP SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR THE FINAL EXAM. NEXT TUESDAY I WILL GIVE THE TWO FAMILIES SOME TIME TO CONFER ABOUT THIS, BUT I WILL NEED THOSE QUESTIONS BY NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH, TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTING THE FINAL EXAM.
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1.Explain the differences in how Malcolm’s parents treated him in comparison to his brothers and sisters. Why?
A: Malcolm’s father was very strict on all of his brothers and sisters, but not on him as much. Most of Malcolm’s whippings came from his mother. Malcolm said as anti-white as his father was, he was subconsciously so afflicted with the white man’s brainwashing of Negroes that he inclined to favor the light ones, and Malcolm was his lightest child. Malcolm’s mother, on the other hand, did not treat him any better – she resented the display of white blood that was apparent in Malcolm’s skin. His mother gave him hell for the same reason his father subconsciously favored him.
2.What happened when Malcolm’s teacher, Mr. Ostrowski, asked Malcolm what he wanted to be when he grew up? How did this affect Malcolm?
A: Malcolm answered that he wanted to be a lawyer, but the teacher encouraged him towards a more “realistic” goal for a black man, something more like carpentry. This made Malcolm rebel against the comfort of a “good profession” for a black man and the black bourgeoisie. Malcolm had done better than his classmates and realized that no matter how smart he was, it was never good enough for the whites. It is possible that if Malcolm’s teacher had not deterred him, but encouraged him, Malcolm would have lived a “comfortable” life as a lawyer.
3.What did jail do for Malcolm?
A: Jail saved Malcolm from his certain demise due to his fast lifestyle of drugs and hustling. When he first entered jail, he was known as Satan, because of his antireligious attitude. Upon meeting Bimbi, though, Malcolm began to educate himself. He also found the Nation of Islam while in jail and completed his transformation through correspondence with Elijah Muhammad.
4.How did Malcolm interpret the drug culture of Harlem?
A: The drugs that plagued Harlem were another mean’s of the white man’s oppression. White mafias would bring drugs into the black community and get them hooked so that they were further dependent on the white man. Drugs also degraded the black community economically and morally.
5.What was the name given to Malcolm by the Nigerian Muslims during his trip abroad? What does it mean?
A: Omowhale= “the son that’s come home”
6.What would Imam Zaid say if you told him the world needed another Malcolm X or MLK?
A: “We don’t need another Malcolm of MLK, so stop searching for one. We need enough people who can be inspired by their example.” Basically, he is saying that people need to stop waiting around and take action themselves.
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